AreaIndonesia

Commodity GroupOilseeds, oils and meals

CommodityForest, peatland

Date01/08/2019

Policy CategoryOther

Policy InstrumentEnvironmental policy

DescriptionConverted the existing temporary moratorium on concessions to clear primary forest and convert peatland (for any type of plantation development or logging activity) into a permanent ban. According to official data, the 8-year old moratorium contributed significantly to slowing deforestation and peatland conversion across the country.

NotesIndonesia’s President made permanent a temporary moratorium – first introduced in 2011 – on concessions to clear primary forest and convert peatland for any type of plantation development or logging activity. Based on official data, the 8-year old moratorium has contributed significantly to slowing deforestation and peatland conversion across the country. Notwithstanding, a number of civil society organizations voiced doubts about the measure’s effectiveness, pointing to alleged gaps in the moratorium such as i) the lack of protection for degraded (or ‘secondary’) forests, and ii) recurrent revisions – by local administrations – in the moratorium’s regional boundaries. Critics also pointed out that for the moratorium to be effective, its geographic scope ought to expand beyond new permits to include existing concessions, and to address deforestation outside concessions and protected areas. (See also MPPU Oct.’18)